"The city is acting on Bush administration fear tactics to make healthcare unaffordable for working families."
PALO ALTO, CA - Under pressure from economic fear-tactics, Palo Alto workers on Thursday voted to strike if city leaders continue on their path to making healthcare and a dignified retirement less affordable for working families.
"The city proposals would likely bankrupt our lowest paid employees and their families," said Lynn Krug, SEIU Local 521 Palo Alto Chapter President. "These workers would take a hit that would put them below the threshold of 'sustainability' for Santa Clara County."
It's been reported that affluent Palo Alto has not only weathered the economic storm better than other cities, city leaders have actually played shell games with taxpayer dollars to make it appear the city has less money than it really does.
The truth is Palo Alto has amassed more than $22 million in Internal Service Fund reserves, in addition to the General Fund. City leaders also continually raid the General Fund, spending more on capital improvement projects than any comparable cities - even 400 times more than San Jose.
The city could actually save residents millions of dollars if they reorganized. But city leaders have trumped up organizational improvements that exist only paper.
And while the current administration is trying to make healthcare more affordable, Palo Alto leaders are making it harder for families to afford decent healthcare.
"It's clear that Palo Alto has other options available to balance the budget," Krug said. "Instead, the city is acting on Bush administration fear tactics to make healthcare unaffordable for working families."
Under such economic threats from Palo Alto leaders, workers have been retiring in droves and city services have been affected.
"Unfortunately, the ones retiring are some of our most dedicated and productive managers and employees," Krug said. "Palo Alto residents have suffered losses during this time, not to mention the cost of retraining and the loss of productivity due to retiree panic and the brain-drain going out the door."
